May 9, 2025
Texas Rangers shortstop
Corey Seager and outfielder
Evan Carter are both out of Friday's series opener in Detroit against the Tigers and tough left-hander
Tarik Skubal.
Josh Smith is starting at shortstop and is hitting seventh, while
Sam Haggerty is patrolling center field and batting leadoff. Fantasy managers should be on the lookout for more news on Seager, as he was also out in Thursday's series finale against the Boston Red Sox. This will be his second straight missed game. Smith is hitting over .300 on the year for Texas but is an easy DFS fade at the bottom of the lineup in a tough lefty-lefty matchup. Haggerty will be making his debut with the Rangers after going 1-for-15 in eight games for the Seattle Mariners in 2024. Even in the leadoff spot, he's not much to look at for DFS. Smith is 0-for-3 in his career against Skubal, while Haggerty is just 0-for-1.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
May 8, 2025
Texas Rangers shortstop
Corey Seager and catcher
Jonah Heim will both retreat to the bench for Thursday's series finale at Fenway Park against the Boston Red Sox.
Josh Smith will handle shortstop and hit leadoff, while
Tucker Barnhart will do the catching and hit ninth against Red Sox right-hander
Brayan Bello. Since returning from the injured list on May 3, Seager has gone 5-for-19 with a double, three RBI and four runs scored in four games played. The five-time All-Star and two-time World Series MVP has hit a respectable .281 (27-for-96) this year with four homers and nine RBI. Heim gets a breather after starting in each of the team's last 11 games. He's getting more playing time now with
Kyle Higashioka (intercostal) on the IL and has taken advantage of it. Smith, who is hitting over .300 in 99 at-bats, will be a DFS sleeper on Thursday in the leadoff spot against Bello.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
May 3, 2025
Texas Rangers shortstop
Corey Seager (hamstring) has been activated from the 10-day injured list ahead of Saturday's game against the Mariners. The 31-year-old has been out since April 22 with a hamstring strain, but will be designated hitter for the Rangers on Saturday and bat third versus
Luis Castillo, who the 5x All-Star has had limited success against during his career, going 3-for-15 with a 2:3 BB:K. The 31-year-old was slashing .286/.345/.468 with a .354 wOBA and 131 wRC+ before the injury, and managers will of course want to get him back in their season-long lineups.
Josh Smith is starting at shortstop for the Rangers on Saturday.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: Texas Rangers PR
May 2, 2025
Texas Rangers shortstop
Corey Seager (hamstring) had a couple of live batting practice sessions during the team's current homestand this week, including one on Friday, according to MLB.com's Kennedi Landry. If he bounces back well, Seager could be activated from the 10-day injured list and return to the starting lineup on Saturday against the division-rival Seattle Mariners and right-hander
Luis Castillo. With Seager out,
Josh Smith has been serving as the Rangers' starting shortstop. Fantasy managers will want to get Seager back into their starting lineups immediately upon his return, as he was batting .286 (22-for-77) with four home runs, six RBI and eight runs scored before injuring his hamstring in 21 games played. Smith will be the odd-man out when Seager returns despite hitting .299 (23-for-77) with two homers as a super-utility man.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Kennedi Landry
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